Related Stories

Even as the Buffalo Sabres' injury list grows, the future of forward Mikhail Grigorenko remains cloudy.

Grigorenko, who was loaned to the Russian team for the world junior championship, is back in Buffalo but likely won't be returning to the Sabres lineup yet.

In fact, he could be headed back to junior, even though he technically doesn't have a team. The Quebec Remparts, who own Grigorenko's junior rights, are already at the two-import limit and the QMJHL trade deadline has passed.

"He's coming back here initially," Sabres coach Ted Nolan told WGR 550 Buffalo. "He's coming here for Pat (Lafontaine) and I to discuss and we'll make that decision when he gets here. It's what Patty and I will be discussing, but we're leaning (towards returning Grigorenko to junior), yes."

Grigorenko can't get back into the Sabres lineup even though five players are on IR. That list grew Thursday when forward Drew Stafford was put on IR with an upper-body injury.

BISHOP GOES ON IR

Just when it looked like the Tampa Bay Lightning were going to get their No. 1 goalie back, Ben Bishop was put on the injured reserve list Thursday.

Bishop, out with a sprained right wrist, is eligible to come off IR on Monday.

"With a sprained ankle, sprained wrist, sprained anything, you may come off IR, but he may still not be ready to go," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said on the team website. "He needs a little treatment, but I'm not too worried yet."

Bishop was hurt when he took a shot off the wrist during warmups prior to Monday's game against the Edmonton Oilers. He said the injury got worse during the game.

"It's just a shooting pain and it hasn't felt good the last few days," he said. "I'll have a couple days to practice before I can play again. We'll then have a good gauge for Monday."

The Lightning called up Cedrick Desjardins to back up Anders Lindback while Bishop is out.

RINALDO OUT SIX WEEKS

Philadelphia Flyers tough guy Zac Rinaldo will be out six weeks with a high sprain in his left ankle, general manager Paul Holmgren said Thursday.

Rinaldo, who leads the Flyers with 101 penalty minutes and 135 hits, was hurt Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. He scored his first goal of the season in the win.

The Flyers also now believe forward Matt Read has a concussion, which goes against the initial diagnosis. Holmgren admitted he isn't sure when Read suffered the concussion.

"Initially we didn't think (it was a concussion)," Holmgren said. "Now, it's safe to say he has symptoms of a concussion. Initially he passed all the tests that are required by protocol, but he doesn't feel right. I can't explain it. As far as we've come in diagnosing those type of injuries and as far as we've come with treating them, we've still got a ways to go, I guess."

BRIEFLY

The San Jose Sharks put forward Logan Couture on IR after he had hand surgery earlier in the week. He's expected to be out 3-4 weeks. The Sharks also called up defenceman Matt Tennyson from Worcester of the AHL ... The Nashville Predators recalled forward Filip Forsberg from the Swedish junior team. Forsberg was loaned to the Swedish team for the world junior championship, where he was named tournament MVP ... Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts and Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice will captain the two teams in the annual CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game next week in Calgary. Ekblad will wear the 'C' for Team Orr while Reinhart will captain Team Cherry ... The cancelled Carolina Hurricanes-Buffalo Sabres game from Tuesday has been rescheduled to Feb. 25, the NHL announced. The game will be played on the final day of the Olympic break.